WE SHOULD STOP NOW

Part 3 - THE BREAKFAST RUN

CALEB

There is absolutely no way i'm doing this for more than a few weeks! The hours are bullshit, the work is bullshit, the company is bullshit, hell i'm not even getting paid to be here! I should get a fucking medal for just turning up, instead Joanie has spent most the morning scowling at me whilst being as sweet as pie to every customer that strolls in to get their breakfast. 

I toss a blueberry muffin into a brown paper bag, spin it around to seal it before passing it to the old lady whose just taken 10 minutes to decide what to eat. I shoot her a wink as I take her money which lands me a nice tip and a giggle from the two hot girls in gym gear waiting to be served next. OK maybe things aren't all bad.

"What can I get you ladies?" I ask huskily with a flirty grin on my face whilst I try and decide which one I find hotter. I need a date for this awful charity ball thing my mum has collared me into attending Saturday night and I think i've just hit the jackpot, either of these girls would look pretty good in a tight dress and hanging off my arm for the night.

"Do you have anything I can eat thats fat free, dairy free, wheat free and doesn't contain nuts? I'm on a diet and I don't like nuts in my teeth," The blonde smiles. 

Yeah hard pass on this one, she seems hard work. 

"How's about a bottle of water?" I say honestly because I don't have a fucking clue what else I could give her. The blonde glares at me as if I've just said the stupidest thing in the world to her which seems to make her red headed friend giggle. 

"Don't mind her, she's just fussy. I on the other hand likes sweet things, I can't resist them. I particularly like anything where I can lick off the toppings. Like whipped cream." she says seductively.

Bingo, we have a winner.

"Sure, i've the perfect thing for you." I smirk whilst grabbing a pen and writing my name and number on the brown paper bag before adding the sweetest cake I can spot from the display counter. I slide the bag over to the red head whose grinning like a cheshire cat.

"On the house and i'll see you Saturday," I cockily say as I rest my hands on the counter. The redhead picks up the bag without breaking eye contact with me before throwing me a big sultry smile then turns to head out the door. 

"Maybe," she turns to say over her shoulder confidently before throwing the door open and heading to her top of the line Porsche thats parked terribly just outside. It's a gamble if she calls or not, but i'm pretty confident i've just sorted my date out for the weekend. 

Still smiling I turn around to find Joanie standing behind me with her hands on her hips looking furious.

"You're paying for that cake," she grits out.

I pull out a twenty dollar note from my pocket and stuff it into the cashier.

"Done, plus i've paid for any other freebies I wanna give out." I throw back at her. 

"My bakery is not somewhere for you to pick up hot girls Caleb! If you're not going to take it seriously you should just leave!" She glares at me.

I untie the apron i'm wearing it and throw it onto the counter. "Fine." 

Joanie's chest rises and falls quickly as if she's trying to contain her emotions. "Fine!" She snaps back. 

I roll my eyes at her as I grab my jacket thats hanging up near the kitchen door and stride towards the door. I'm fucking done with this, but as I swing open the door a large group of bikers appear in the doorway and saunter in like they own the place. I stand back to let them in as none of them have the manners to let me pass and I count at least twenty have taken over the small Bakery. I glance back as I head out the door to see Joanie biting her lip nervously, her head is held high as she waits to take their orders but I can tell she's intimidated by these guys. Hell i'm intimidating by them, most of them are massive and I can already hear some of the comments their making about the 'hot piece of ass' thats stood behind the counter and it gets my back up.

Odds are they'll have their breakfasts and be on their way with no fuss but I know I can't take that risk. She's one the Collin's sisters, i'll never leave any of them in trouble. With a sigh I turn back around and shuffle my way around the group of guys and head back behind the counter whilst removing my coat and putting my apron back on. 

I turn to look at Joanie whose watching me with a look on her face that i've never seen before. There's cracks in her ice queen facade that shows a glimmer of real vulnerability in her eyes and for once she gives me a sheepish smile. 

"Hey, why don't you head into the kitchen to make a start on those cakes you need to get done, i've got this." I give her a small smile and she nods before disappearing into the back.

As it turns out the bikers are fucking hilarious good guys. I share some jokes with them and get them served pretty quickly and they leave satisfied with the food and service with no drama. By the time they leave the bakery it's almost sold out of all the stock and Joanie is working flat out to make more food ready for the lunch run. 

As I clear the last table of dirty dishes, I turn when I hear a little clatter behind me. Joanie rests a tall cup of delicious smelling coffee and an amazing looking cinnamon bun on the counter and pushes it towards me.

"Thanks for coming back," she mutters nervously before looking up at me through those long lashes of hers.

I clean my hands on my apron before I rest my hands on the counter so we're facing each other. 

"For me?" I ask genuinely surprised.

Joanie does a little nod of her head still avoiding full eye contact with me before retreating back into the kitchen to continue with her lunch orders. Grinning to myself I grab the bun and coffee and I go take a seat at the window table and tuck into my breakfast. 

Fuck me, it's good! 

I didn't even realise how hungry I was. The bun is devoured in literally three bites it's that tasty and I burn my throat trying to knock the coffee back too quickly. 

From where I'm sat I can see Joanie working tirelessly in the kitchen. Her hair swept up in a messy bun, her face flushed with a pink tinge from racing around all day and there's a little line of flour on her cheek that she has no idea is there. 

She's a total mess...but she's also pretty breathtaking.